In Conversation with PhD Scholar Audrey Wang

Next in our round-up of our annual scientific meeting #APS2014 Audrey talks to us about her research investigating brain changes related to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Audrey’s PhD research is funded by the Mundipharma#3/APS/APRA PhD Scholarship.

What is your study about?
The role of the brain in CRPS using a once-off neuroimaging study.

Who are you recruiting?
People with a diagnosis of CRPS affecting their arm/ shoulder/ wrist or hand.

Why study this condition?
CRPS pain is so severe that people talk about the pain in their arm/ fingers like it was being scrapped with a cheese grater with lightening shocks, even though the injury might have been a long time ago. They end up having long term pain and we think there are central nervous system related changes involved with this. Even when the wind blows over their skin they can experience severe pain.

What does the study involve?
We are investigating brain related changes in CRPS associated with touch sensation at the fingertips. Fingertip sensation is felt not only at the fingertips but is reflected with blood flow changes to the neurons in the sensory cortex. Phase encoded functional magnetic resonance imaging is an efficient procedure to simultaneously map the location of several neuronal representations which is matched to the frequency of touch sensation during MRI scanning session.

Where are you recruiting from?
Anywhere in Australia as long as people are willing to travel for the once-off session here in Sydney. We have a travel budget to help people get here.
We want to recruit about 20 people who have CRPS in their arm/ shoulder/ wrist or hand and compare their brain related changes to healthy pain free volunteers.

Do you have CRPS and live in Australia? Do you know of anyone with CRPS in Australia who might be suitable? Please get in touch!

Disclaimer

We aim to inform and stimulate interest about multidisciplinary pain management. We encourage comments that are respectful and engage with the content of this website and are aligned with the Australian Pain Society’s Vision, Mission and Aims (see our ‘About’ tab). No shameless self-promotion please, those comments will not be published.
All blog posts should be attributed to their author, not to the Australian Pain Society.

Please do not use this website to post material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful or embarrassing to any other person or entity.

Health Disclaimer

We do not prescribe or endorse treatments or clinics.
While being unable to give specific individual advice, the Australian Pain Society has a Facility Directory which may be useful.
This site and its services do not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately.